Artificial limb



N0. 62l,638. Patented Mar. 2|, I899.

M. B. DUNALDSUN.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

(No Model) [Application filed Apr, 13, 898.) sheets sheet I;

mum

witnesses No. 62|,638. Patented Mar. 2|, I899. M. B. DONALDSON.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

(Application filed Apr. 13, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A, 61mm 0,5

wit oz 9/ THE NORRIS PETERS cow. PNOTO-LITNOW WASHINGTON 04 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- MARTIN B. DONALDSON, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 621,638, dated March 21, 1899. Application filed April 13, 1898. Serial No. 677,469. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN B. DONALDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Limbs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to artificial limbs, and has for its object the construction of a limb wherein the cushioning of the stump of the natural member is effected in the degree essential to comfort and health without impairing the strength or efficiency of the construction.

It consists of constructing a cushion comprising upper and lower cushion-plates separated by an air-cushion and by two or more vertical spiral springs set into recesses in the lower plate and covered on the sides by sprin covers, preferably of buckskin, and vertical studs of lesser length than said springs secured to said upper plate and projecting freely and centrally into the said spiral springs,forming cases therefor, respectively.

It also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an artificial limb constructed. in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is'a perspective view of the cushion forming part of my said invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, showing the central ball or air-cushion partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the stump-socket forming part of my said invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the whole of said artificial limb. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the upper surface of the top cushionplate of the socket-cushion. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper surface of the lower cushion-plate of the socket-cushion. Fig. 8 is a plan View of the top of the shank of the lower limb, showing the shoulder upon which the socket-cushion rests. Fig. 9 is a detail of the foot-supporting cushion. Fig. 10 shows one way of mounting the same in the lower limb.

Fig. 11 is a perspective, partly in section, of the molding-cast over which I mold the socket B. Fig. 12 is'a top or plan view of the said molding-cast. Fig. 13 is a vertical section of said molding-cast, and Fig. 14 is a detail view showing a means for lengthening said mold.

In the drawings, A. is the cuff, which secures thelimb to the natural thigh. a is the section of the metal side supporting-strap which is secured to the cuff A by rivets or other suitable means.

B is the socket, built up in any suitable manner, provided on the sides with vertical strap-recesses b, which gradually diminish in depth toward the top from a point above the vertical center of said socket to a point about an inch and one-half from thejtop, where. the inclination of the recess begins, said recess attaining its maximum depth (being about the thickness of the metal side straps) at a point about the vertical center of said socket and maintaining the same depth from that point to thelower edge of the socket. The socket B is also provided with a broad belt 12 attached to its upper front edge, said attachment being preferably efiected by sewing. The belt 1) extends from the front edge of the side recess on one side to a corresponding point on the other side, the lower edge and extended Wings 5 of said belt being free and said extended wings provided with lacing-holes on the vertical outer edges, as at B. The belt 12 and the recess b, as specifically constructed, comprise important features of my said invention. The socket B is placed between the side straps a, while the flaps or wings b are loose, the said straps resting in said recesses b upon each side of the socket. The wings b are then carried over the said recesses b and the straps c therein and are laced together at the rear of the said socket B. The said wings b are out low at the point where they pass over said side straps 0, so as to permit of the vertical motion of the socket between the metal side straps, said metal side straps being bent or curved outwardly near the top of said socket.

D is the upper cushion-plate of a cushion for the socket B and is provided with an upwardly-extending flange (Z and a superior concavity or disk-shaped depression cl, which is centrally apertured at d with one or more apertures, as desired, to permit the air to be ejected from the air-cushion to cool the stump when the cushion is depressed. The plate is also provided with rubber cushions cl 'and downwardly-projectin g studs d ,and the lower face of said plate D is provided with a diskshaped depression (Z to accommodate the periphery of the uppersurface of the spherical air-cushion (1 The plate D is covered, preferably, with buckskin, as (Z or other suitable material, from the edge of the flange d to the edge of the depression (Z thus covering the rubber cushion d", but apertured for the passage of studs (1 The studs 61 are preferably of wood or other non-resonant material of suitable strength and stifiness. The lower cushion-plate d of the socket-cushion is provided in its upper surface with two or more springrecesses (1, wherein are set spiral springs d projecting vertically above said lower plate, which plate is also provided with a central disk-shaped depression in its upper surface to accommodate the lower periphery of the spherical cushion d. The said springs 01 are provided with spring-coverings (i preferably of buckskin, to deaden the sound, the said plate (Z also being partly covered with buckskin or other suitable material to deaden sound and prevent rattling.

d is an air-cushion, preferably spherical, being in fact a hollow rubber ball with an aperture d", which air-cushion is interposed between plates D and d and is preferably cemented to (1 When the parts are adjusted, the studs (1 of the upper plate project into the spiral springs (1 respectively, and form cores for the same. The flange d projects into the lower portion of the socket l3, and the plate d rests on shoulders constructed in the hollow of the lowerlimb C, said socket-cushion in its detail and entirety forming part of my said invention. It will be readily observed that said socket-cushion is capable of several modifications in the number and arrange ment of springs d and in the contour of the air-cushions d and the corresponding plate depressions andin the extent of the buckskin or other sound-deadening coverings,all within the contemplation and scope of my said invention. It is also within the scope of my invention to make minor modifications as to size and contour to enable its use as a cushion for a thigh-stump socket above the knee-joint.

O is the lower limb portion of said construction and is modeled of wood with vertical side recesses to accommodate the lower ends of metal side straps c, which may be forked at their lower ends. The lower limb portion 0 has a vertical hollow portion 0 and a flush exterior metal continuation-wall o which metal wall is secured to the wooden portion 0, by screws or other suitable means, near its lower edge andprojects upward beyond the wooden portion 0 and outside the metal side straps c. The said parts 0 and o are covered first with cheese-cloth or other suitable material and then with rawhide to make a smooth and desirable and efficient exterior surface, said recess 0 being abruptly enlarged in size near its upper edge to form shoulders to support the socket-cushion plate (1 One or more suitable passages c of small diameter extend from the said recess a to the foot portions, in which passages are carried the rods or wires or cords for the operation of the foot,

and, notably as a part of my said invention,

there is mounted upon or in the floor of said recess 0 a vertical spiral spring 0 provided with a loop or hook at its upper extremity, which hook engages the eye of a rod or wire a. The rod 0 projects downwardly through the spring 0 and through the passage 0 and is secured to the lower interior portion of the foot by suitable hooks or pins-or other means, the lower ends of said rod 0 being flattened and apertured for the purpose. The said rod 0 and said spring 0 are provided with sounddeadening cases or covers, preferably of buckskin, and said spring 0 being provided, if desired, with an overall-cap of metal, as 0 with a bottom flange for securing the same to the floor of the recess 0 or, preferably, the spring 0 may be countersunk wholly or in part in the floor of recess 0 as seen in Fig. 12 of the drawings, the object being to prevent the lateral swaying of said spring, all of which construction comprises part of my said invention.

E is the foot portion of said artificial limb and may be constructed in any desired manner and is provided with attaching means to secure the foot of the rod 0. The remaining portions of said foot may be constructed in any of the modern and well-know11 designs, with the addition of a pressed-leather sole which forms part of my said invention. In the drawings 6 is the pressed-leather sole, which is preferably constructed in two sections, with a lateral division-line under the instep, as at 6 such construction permitting the rocking movement of the front foot without stretching the leather. The said sole is formed by constructing a wooden mold slightly larger than the foot and placing in the same well oiled or greased leather. The foot or a counterpart of it is used for a cast or mold block and is clamped into the mold above the leather, which is rolled over the edge of the foot and conforms when dry to the contour of the sole and edges of the foot and slightly laps over upon the upper surface of the same.

This sole greatly lessens the friction on the stocking and has no rough or sharp horizontal edges to cut or wear the same. The sole is not rigidly secured to the foot except under the instep, and therefore the movement of the front-foot joint wears the leather sole, but not the stocking.

The side straps a and c are coupled by lateral journal-bolts of any suitable construction, either one or the other being preferably IIC forked at said joint, and the opposite member entering and being journaled between said forks.

In constructing the socket B, I find it especially advantageous to saw vertically in halves the molding-cast H and interpose between the halves the separating-blocks of equal thicknesses K, K, and K The blocks K and K are vertical and the blocks K K horizontal, their surfaces being flush With each other, not afiixed, but simply laid between the two halves of said cast H,the whole being held together by suitable exterior clamps or vise. .The blocks K K K supply the thickness removed in the process of sawing the cast, and also enable the cast to be readily removed without breaking from the completed or partially completed socket by first drawing out the blocks K and K and K It is sometimes desirable to lengthen the said cast, which I accomplish by boring two or more vertical holes in each side of said split cast, as at h h, in the bottom ends thereof and insert therein two pins, as h h, which project beyond the ends of said cast. Around these pins paper or other suitable substance is wrapped to form a foundation for the plaster, after which plaster is applied flush with the surfaces of the original cast, all within the scope of my invention.

It will be apparent that limbs constructed a in accordance with my invention will not be cumbersome, but can be made light and yet perfectly strong and secure. They will also fill all the conditions of an easy comfortable artificialsupport of the stump of a natural member.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an artificial limb, the combination with a lower supporting portion, of a socket for receiving the stump, a cushion, interposed between the said socket and supporting portion, comprising upper and lower members, and an air-cushion interposed between them, said cushion being bodily removable from between the said socket and supporting portion, substantially as described.

2. In an artificial limb, the combination with an upper and lower portion, of a cushion inserted between said portions, comprising an upper and lower member the said lower member having sockets for receiving and holding springs, springs interposed between them,and an air-cushion also inserted between the said members, substantial] y as described.

3. In an artificial limb, the combination with an upper and lower portion, of a cushion inserted between said portions, comprising an upper and lower plate, springs interposed between them the said lower plates having sockets to receive and hold in place the lower ends of said springs, and pins mounted in the up per plate and projecting into the said springs for guiding their upper ends andholding them in place, substantially as described.

4:. A cushion for artificial limbs, comprisin g upper and lower plates, an air ball or bulb interposed between them, the said plates hayin g coneavities upon their facing surfaces to receive the said bulb or cushion, substantially as described.

5. In an artificial limb, the combination with a lower supporting member,and a socket, of a cushion interposed between said members comprising plates having spring means interposed between them, a rubber-ball cushion also interposed between the said plates, the lower plate being supported upon said lower member, and the upper plate having a.

concaved upper surface, and an annular supporting-ledge for receiving the said socket, substantially as described.

6. In an artificial limb, the combination with alowersupporting member and asocket, of a cushion adapted to be interposed between them, said cushion comprising plates and spring means for cushioning one plate upon the other, the said upper plate being provided with peripheral cushioning'upon its under surface, whereby any jar is prevented should the two plates be brought together, and means for holding the said peripheral cushions in place, substantially as described.

' 7. In an artificial limb, the combination with a socket of a supporting lower limb, a cushion for supporting said socket and resting upon the lower limb, the said lower limb being provided with a recess having shoulders formed at its upper edge for receiving and supporting said cushion, and an outer surrounding rim portion formed on the upper edge of said supporting-limb, substantially as described.

8. In'an artificial limb, the combination with a foot portion and a cushion resting thereon, of a socket resting upon the said cushion, the said socket having recesses formed in its sides for receiving guide-straps attached to said foot portion, and a flap orbelt secured at its upper edge to the front of the socket and having laterally-extending wings, the said wings being adapted to ex tend over the said grooves in the side of the socket being cut low at the point of passage over the metal side straps and be secured together by lacing at the rear of the socket, sub stantially as described.

9. In an artificial limb, the combination with a socket, of a lower supporting-limb having a recess formed'therein, a passage leading from the said recess to the foot portion,

a rod passing through said passage and se cured at its lower end to the foot, a spring in-- terposed between the upper end of the rod and the body portion of the limb for cushion= ing the movement of the foot, and a capor casing secured in place over the said spring, so as to cover the same, having a sound-deadening lining, whereby dust and dirt cannot enter and interfere with the action of the spring, substantially as described.

10. In a cushion for artificial limbs, the

' combination with upper and lower plates,-of ball, and means for securing the parts in an air-cushion comprising a flexible ball inplace, substantially as described. :0 tel-posed between the said plates and engag- In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my ing recesses formed in the facing surfaces of signature in presence of two witnesses.

the said plates, the said ball being provided MARTIN B. DONALDSON.

with an aperture, and the said upper plate be- Witnesses:

ing also provided with an aperture or pas- JAMES T. W'ATSON,

sage-way registering with the aperture in the p D. D. MOINNIS. 

